Hydrophobic oleophilic wood pulp

Abstract

Treatment of high yield wood pulp which has ether extractives of greater than about 3.0% at temperatures of about 105° C. or higher for at least about 16 hours followed by fluffing of the heat treated pulp results in a relatively inexpensive absorbent for oil spills and the like. The oil is readily recovered from the absorbent or the oil and absorbent may be burned as fuel without separation.

The subject matter which applicants regard as their invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed as follows: 
     
       1. Hydrophobic, oleophilic pulp derived from high yield wood pulp by a process consisting essentially of: (a) treating high yield wood pulp having at least 3.0% ether extractive content at temperatures of greater than 100° C. for at least sufficient time until said pulp exhibits 30% or less water absorption when tested by Tappi test T491-Su 63; and   (b) mechanically fluffing the pulp of step a above.   
     
     
       2. Pulp as defined in claim 1 wherein the wood pulp is derived from southern pine. 
     
     
       3. Pulp as defined in claims 1 or 2 wherein the wood pulp is thermomechanical pulp. 
     
     
       4. Pulp as defined in claims 1 or 2 wherein the wood pulp is heated at about 105° C. 
     
     
       5. Pulp as defined in claim 3 wherein the wood pulp is heated at about 105° C. 
     
     
       6. Pulp as defined in claim 1 or 2 wherein the wood pulp is heated for about 16 hours. 
     
     
       7. Pulp as defined in claim 3 wherein the wood pulp is heated for about 16 hours. 
     
     
       8. Pulp as defined in claim 4 wherein the wood pulp is heated about 16 hours. 
     
     
       9. Pulp as defined in claim 5 wherein the wood pulp is heated for about 16 hours. 
     
     
       10. A process for the preparation of hydrophobic, oleophilic wood pulp derived from high yield wood pulp which consists essentially of: (a) treating high yield wood pulp having at least 3.0% ether extractive content at temperatures of greater than 100° C. for at least sufficient time until said pulp exhibits 30% or less water absorption by Tappi Test T491-Su 673; and   (b) mechanically fluffing the pulp of step a above.   
     
     
       11. A process for the removal of oil pollutants from at least a portion of the surface of a body of water which comprises dispersing a fluff pulp as described in claim 1 over at least a portion of the surface of a body of water, said portion of said surface being at least partly covered by oil pollutants, and thereafter removing the pulp with absorbed oil pollutants from the surface of the body of water.